Sundance swag: Gifting Hollywood with Utah flavor

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Liz Kennard-Butcher's newest jam had to have a flavor and a name worthy of a Hollywood-style red carpet event.

After all, popular film stars like Kristen Stewart, Catherine Keener, Ben Affleck and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are going to receive a jar during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, which opens tomorrow for its annual 10-day run.

For her star-studded jam, the 45-year-old owner of Logan's Butcher's Bunches started with flavorful blackberries and raspberries from Brigham City, soaked them in Amaretto and then stirred in rich dark award-winning Madagascar chocolate, made by Utah's Amano Artisan Chocolate.

The resulting dark-colored jam reminded Butcher of the black shirts and pants that directors and producers always seem to wear -- at least in the movies. That's when the moniker "Back in Black" was born.

"It's the most awesome jam I've ever made," said an excited Butcher, who admitted to being a fan of the popular rock band AC/DC, who has a song by the same name.

The "Back in Black" jam is one of more than a dozen Utah-made items going inside 300 "swag bags" for producers, directors and actors who make appearances on Park City Television (PCTV) during the film festival. There also will be tomato seed packets from Late Bloomin' Heirlooms in West Jordan; beanies from Locals Have More Fun; cookies from The Dough Girl; a CD from Desert Wind Music, dog blanket from RoverWrap.com; and organic chocolate bars from The Chocolate Conspiracy.

The Utah products should appeal to the Sundance guests who typically have been at the forefront of eating local and organic, said AJ Wentworth of The Chocolate Conspiracy. He thinks they will especially like his "raw" chocolate bars, sweetened with Heber City honey and never heated over 100 degrees. "Any actor who likes chocolate is going to love it," he said.

As of last week, PCTV News Director Ori Hoffer had scheduled 80 interviews and 15 musical guests during the festival. Some of the more recognizable guest include actors Keener, Affleck and Gordon-Levitt, as well as David Hyde Pierce, Adrien Brody, Kevin Kline, NBA star Reggie Miller and comedian Joan Rivers.

"I'm hoping the folks from L.A., New York and elsewhere will discover that we have some amazing businesses here in Utah," said Hoffer, who hosts the station's "Mountains Views" program.

Butcher's Bunches jam are "pretty amazing," said Hoffer, which is why he selected them for the Utah gift bag.

For several years, Butcher has sold heirloom tomatoes, peppers, berries and other produce from her backyard garden at the Cache Valley Farmer's Market. Last year, she began experimenting with some of her leftover produce, turning it into jams and spreads with unique flavor combinations.

For example, she makes a Peach Bleu Berry jam, a mixture of fresh Utah peaches, raspberries and chunks of bleu cheese, and a Black Raspberry Garlic Smash, a sweet-and sour-offering that works as a meat marinade or alternative to mayonnaise on a sandwich.

This winter, Butcher is selling her jams and spreads at the Saturday Locovore Market at Caputo's Deli in Salt Lake City and at The Market Hall in Kimball Junction. The jam, $8-$9 for a 12-ounce jar, also can be purchased online at http://www.butchersbunches.com" Target="_BLANK">http://www.butchersbunches.com.

Of course, the stars get them for free. "It would be such a privilege if they liked my jam," Butcher said, adding that she hopes a few guests will like her unusual flavors enough to order more and tell their influential friends about it, too.

Is there a particular actor she hopes will eat her jam?

"Johnny Depp," she said, adding: "I'd spoon feed him my jam."

kathys@sltrib.com" Target="_BLANK">kathys@sltrib.com